Dark Gathering

Keitaro Gentouga spent his teens hidden away after a spirit possession incident left him anxious and withdrawn. Now trying to rebuild a normal life as a private tutor, he crosses paths with Yayoi Hozuki, a brilliant but eccentric girl who immediately recognizes his gift as a medium. She persuades him to accompany her to locations where strange phenomena occur, and the two begin confronting restless, often dangerous, supernatural entities. The show follows their uneasy partnership, balancing eerie investigations with moments that reveal why Keitaro retreated from the world, while keeping major plot turns and resolutions out of view.

Dark Gathering premiered in 2023, created by Shigeru Murakoshi and Kenichi Kondo. The TV anime features Yu Sasahara as Yayoi Hozuki, Nobunaga Shimazaki as Keitaro Gentouga, and Kana Hanazawa as Eiko Hozuki. The series draws on material associated with Kenichi Kondo and adapts those horror elements for an animated format.

There are no records of major industry awards tied to the series at release. It did not appear on marquee award rosters, and any recognition has been more niche, coming from fan communities and genre-focused conversations rather than mainstream prize circuits.

Within anime and horror circles the show carved out a distinct identity, noted for a mix of body horror imagery and quieter psychological moments. Several scenes stuck with viewers for their unsettling visuals, and the pairing of a reserved medium with a daring young investigator has inspired fan art and online debate about character motivations and the series tone.

Critical and viewer response has been mixed to positive, reflected in a 6.9/10 average from 27 votes. Many praised the atmosphere, voice performances, and inventive creature designs, while some reviewers pointed to uneven pacing and reliance on familiar supernatural tropes. Themes include trauma, isolation, and the cost of confronting the unknown, delivered through a blend of mystery and dark, character-driven drama.